Boston Bruins Set to Open Season Against Rivals Florida Panthers

The Boston Bruins are set to begin their 2024-25 NHL season with a highly anticipated matchup against the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena. The game, scheduled for Tuesday evening, promises to reignite the rivalry between these two competitive teams.

Boston’s lineup for the season opener has been bolstered with new additions, including Elias Lindholm, Max Jones, Mark Kastelic, Cole Koepke, Nikita Zadorov, and Joonas Korpisalo, all of whom will be taking to the ice in Bruins colors for the first time. Korpisalo will start in goal, as Jeremy Swayman requires additional rest before his return to the net.

Fans are eager to see the Bruins’ response after the Panthers ended Boston’s playoff runs for the past two seasons. “I wouldn’t say it will be more special, but it’s definitely gonna be more intense,” stated Bruins captain Brad Marchand, expressing the team’s readiness to face Florida again. “It’s a great opportunity to have two of the best teams in the league matchup against each other… we’re gonna be excited to get out there. They’re obviously gonna be flying high with the celebrations that they have tonight. It’s gonna be a very intense game for sure,” he added during a morning skate interview.

The Florida Panthers will also showcase some fresh faces in their lineup with appearances by Jesper Boqvist and A.J. Greer, adding another layer of intrigue to the contest.

The game is slated to begin at 7 p.m. Eastern Time, though a slight delay is expected due to the Panthers’ planned celebrations commemorating their recent Stanley Cup victory. Broadcast coverage will commence on ESPN, with subsequent games returning to NESN.

The roster for the Bruins includes forwards Pavel Zacha, Elias Lindholm, and David Pastrnak on the top line, supported by experienced defensemen like Hampus Lindholm and Charlie McAvoy. Meanwhile, the Panthers will be counting on Carter Verhaeghe, Aleksander Barkov, and Sam Reinhart to lead their offensive efforts.

Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney unveiled the opening day roster, which includes notable names such as Johnny Beecher, Charlie Coyle, and alternate captain Brad Marchand, among others. The Bruins have marked forward Matt Poitras and defensemen Ian Mitchell and Alec Regula as Injured Non-Roster, affecting their immediate availability.